Plans for volunteers to spray and swipe South Oldham Middle School surfaces with disinfectant on Saturday, Feb. 2 are canceled.

An army of parent volunteers planned to attack student desks, lockers, door handles and other surfaces at SOMS with disinfectant spray and Clorox wipes to decrease spread of the flu and other viruses.

SOMS parent Daryl Baer coordinated efforts to rid the school of germs.

"We do our best to stay on top of it in our homes," Baer said, "but our kids are the school more hours than at home."

Baer had estimated that cleaning 50 rooms at SOMS could be completed in an hour or less if 50 to 75 parents volunteered to help on a Saturday morning. Volunteers planned to furnish their own supplies.

District officials canceled the event because flu germs survive only eight hours without a host, according to the Centers for Disease Control and the Oldham County Health Department.

Snow and icy roads prompted district officials to cancel Friday classes for Oldham County students.

SOMS Principal Rob Clayton said custodians disinfect high-traffic items each day at school, and teachers will continue to allow students to wipe down student work areas to minimize the spread of germs during flu season.

"Facility cleanliness has been and will continue to be a major priority for me as principal," he wrote in an email to parents midday Friday.

Thanks to parents' generosity, Clayton said SOMS has a large supply of disinfectant wipes to continue to disinfect surfaces – and allow students to disinfect surfaces as they wish – throughout the remainder of flu and cold season.

"Many thanks to those of you who were planning on being here to support our school," Clayton wrote to parents. "We are blessed to have a fabulous parent community and I welcome your future support as we continue to provide our students with a safe and clean learning environment."